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Novels of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch
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In Venus in Furs, Severin von Kusiemski, a nineteenth century European
nobleman, believes that there is "no equality in love". Severin has
nourished fantasies stemming from his childhood that involve a beautiful, cold,
cruel mistress who frequently dresses in furs. He longs to be at the mercy of
such a mistress, treated harshly, castigated, whipped, and beaten. He
particularly yearns to receive harsh punishment from his mistress while she is
dressed only in fur. Then Severin meets Wanda von Dunajew ....
While Severin's fantasies are highly refined--in other words, he's thought and
salivated over his desires for years--they're actually not very well thought
through. Severin signs a contract agreeing to become Wanda's slave, and together
they embark across Europe with their agreed upon roles.
Severin's adventures in "Venus in Furs" recall that old saying 'be careful what
you wish for--because you might get it'. Severin soon discovers that to be in
thrall to a harsh mistress may not be quite as glamorous as he imagined. Wanda
unleashed is a supreme, sadistic game player, and Severin is ... well ... her
slave, while she takes on other lovers. |
Other novels of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch include "The Black Czarina", "Venus
and Adonis", etc.
The Black Czarina
(Rare book.
Contact Us if you are interested in buying the
book)
One of Sacher-Masoch’s most interesting stories, The Black Czarina begins
with Czar Vladimir of Russia “couched at the feet of his slave” Narda. They are
sharing intimacies and reminiscing about how they met in her ravaged village
just after her husband had been slain by nobles. Their dialogue reveals that
there was a shift in power from the very beginning of the relationship: she
ignored him and was unimpressed by his station, which piqued his curiosity; she
rebuffed his advances, which drove him wild with desire until no other woman
would do. The Czar remarks: “ ‘So we changed parts: you became sovereign, and I,
slave.’ ” Narda teases him and decides to test his adoration by asking an
unimaginable favor… for him to allow her to occupy the throne for one day. The
Czar balks, but soon gives in to her request: “Exaltation, the majesty of
superior soul transfigured her. ‘I give you my empire, my people, myself, from
sunrise to sunset.’ ”
In the story, it is in this spirit of festival that Czar Vladimir allows Narda
to hold the throne for the following day. However, she does not take long to
become tyrannical, as she awakens and puts the Czar in his place: “ ‘The sun
greets the sovereign in me. Vladimir, my slave, on your knees.’ The Czar obeyed.
‘Kiss my foot.’ ” A strange calm takes over Narda as if she were born to be a
Czarina, and when she dresses in the royal garments and bears the crown she
becomes an intimidating figure, to the delight of Vladimir: “ ‘I am afraid of
you and of your imposing majesty. The passion, the delirium that you kindle in
me, I feel almost as a cruelty. But what exquisite pleasure in the violence you
do me! Joy turns into torment, torment into joy. From you, I would suffer in
silence the very worst ill-treatment. Death itself would be ecstasy from you.’ ”
His submission only drives Narda to disdain: “ ‘Suppose I wanted to test how far
your love goes? Suppose I had you scourged like a slave, tortured you, killed
you? Would you acclaim me in dying, like a martyr his god?’ ”
Meanwhile, Narda begins her reign by immediately overturning other social
conventions. She greets the stunned populace and declares that no man will bear
arms in her presence; only women will comprise her royal guard. Narda chooses
these women from the ranks of female slaves and concubines of the palace, all of
whom swear allegiance to her when she offers them freedom at the end of the day.
The new Czarina tries to win over her subjects by dispensing gold coins to the
poor, arranging for an open court to hear all grievances, and lastly she invites
all citizens to a feast at the palace that evening. In spite of these giddy
proclamations which coincide with the time of festival, Narda determines to
maintain a strict enforcement of her new law. She states: “ ‘I demand complete
and unquestioning obedience and submission…. Let no one forget that his head is
a useless object in my house and that I can cut it off if such be my pleasure.’
” Of course, the Czar swoons with erotic anticipation over such threatening
words.
Sacher-Masoch’s storyline has become ludicrously simple: the Czar gave his slave
his throne, which she then refused to give back! As the story continues,
Narda’s guards execute Gedmyn and twenty other nobles in a scene of masochistic
glory, with some of the boyards begging their beautiful murderers for an end to
their torment. Throughout the bloody purge, the Czar reminds the Czarina that
her reign will end that evening, to which she appears to agree.
Fittingly, the story comes to its climax at a feast attended by the entire royal
court, who are disarmed as they enter the hall. Narda persuades the Czar to
serve her publicly as a slave, having him set the table and pour her wine while
she derogatorily teases him. When the hall becomes crowded she picks her moment
to humiliate Vladimir in the most theatrical fashion. As he trembles in fear and
lust at her abuse, she disrobes and berates him for being incompetent and
spilling wine. “ ‘Clumsy rascal!’ she cried. ‘What you deserve is the whip.’ The
Czar, laughing, dropped on his knees, and seized her hand. ‘You play the
mistress as master,’ he said, ‘but that’s enough.’… ‘Voluptuous cruelty is
exuding from your whole being. I am dying for your caresses.’ ”
She offers him one final hot kiss, before shoving him away and raising a whip to
him. Even the Czar hesitates before submitting to a public whipping in front of
his noble subjects. She lashes him in the face, and in a rage he attacks her.
The royal guard of women subdues him and when the nobles rush to his aid they
are shot down by female archers. The rest submit to Narda out of fear, including
a beaten Vladimir. “‘Reign,’ he said, ‘I will be your slave.’ She folded her
arms and regarded him with a cruel pleasure. ‘No,’ she said with a laugh. ‘That
would be dangerous. You see it is only too easy for a slave to become the
master. Your head must fall if I am to reign, and I want to reign.’ ” A
stupefied Vladimir cannot believe his reversal of fortune, as the masochistic
game becomes truly deadly. Still, his masochism has led him to this fate and
this instinct for perversion now seems stronger than death. “ ‘Kiss my foot a
last time.’ She offered him her foot under her dress of scarlet silk. Vladimir
pressed on it his dry and feverish lips. ‘And now, prepare to die.’ ” He
then is beheaded.
"Venus and Adonis"
(Rare book.
Contact Us if you are interested in buying the
book)
This is another novel of Sacher-Masoch that includes stories of cruel
empresses.
In Venus and Adonis, Empress Catherine seduces the unfortunate painter
named Tomasi, only later to to be told with a mocking smile: "Well, Tomasi, are
you satisfied now? If you do not already know it, let me tell you that I am
tired of you; I do not love you any longer, for I love this Adonis, and I shall
have you sent across the trontier, for you are beginning to weary me."
In A Nero in Hoop-Petticoats, Empress Catherine tricks Lieutenant
Mirowitsch into killing one of her rivals, only later were to put to prison
after he succeeded in doing so. He thought that his crime would be
pardoned by Empress Catherine, but only later to find out that she did not.
Other stories include "The Art of Making Oneself Loved", "Disgrace
at Any Price", "Eating Cherries", "A Woman on Outpost Duty",
and "Cupid with the Corporal's Cane".
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